DW Poppy hosts the second annual Holocaust Symposium

February 28, 2019

During World War II over 6 million Jewish men, women, and children were killed by Nazi forces in one of the most tragic genocides of recent history. We’re all familiar with the story; however, the lessons this story has to teach are very relevant in today’s world.

The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre visited DW Poppy yesterday to share these lessons in the district’s second annual Holocaust Symposium. Their mission, according to their website, is to “challenge youth to become committed and responsible global citizens, alert to discrimination, racism and genocide in today’s world.”

High school students visited from around the district to attend the seminar which included a comprehensive lesson on the stages of what led to the holocaust, by Dr. Sebastian Huebel, as well as a first hand account of the events from Dr. Peter Suedfeld.

Dr. Suedfeld is Hungarian born, and lived through the events of World War II. His parents went through concentration camps, and he was orphaned at a young age. During the war, Hungary allied with Germany, and his father was in the Hungarian military. Shortly after, his mother was arrested and he never saw her again, but later learned that she had died in one of the German work camps.

“I don’t think I ever felt hope,” said Dr. Suedfeld, when reflecting on whether or not he was ever hopeful during wartime, “I just took it the way it came.”

Students from around the district engaged with Dr. Suedfeld and Dr. Huebel, asking them a variety of questions on the events of the holocaust and about Dr. Suedfeld’s personal experiences.

The Symposium helped to engage students in learning about the effects of racism, and the stages of social segregation that can lead to mass racism and eventually mass extermination. The events of the Nazi holocaust may be from generations past, but there are still many relevant teachings to be had from such a traumatic period of human history.